KORN: NBA Finals could be more competitive than expected

Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James drives on Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry in 3rd quarter of Warriors' 124-114 win during Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena in Oakland, CA on Thursday, May 31, 2018. Photo by Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle less

Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James drives on Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry in 3rd quarter of Warriors' 124-114 win during Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena in Oakland, CA on Thursday, May 31, 2018. ... more

KORN: NBA Finals could be more competitive than expected

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Folks might want to tap the breaks on all the “Warriors in four” talk that seems to have permeated NBA Finals dialogue.

Even after the Cleveland Cavaliers won Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals in Boston against one of the best home teams this postseason, LeBron James and his teammates were being almost instantly written off.

Not many – and certainly not me – gave the “underdogs” much of a chance in a best-of-seven series against the defending NBA champion Warriors, probably the most talented roster in league history.

But indeed, it was reaffirmed to us all Thursday night that there is no writing off LeBron James. Outside of Kevin Love’s 21-point, 13-rebound performance, the Cavs’ contributions were largely absent apart from the typically dazzling display we’ve seen from James over the last few weeks.

Outgunned and on the road at hostile Oracle Arena, James nearly willed his team to a win by pouring in 50 points. Cleveland’s third-leading scorer in the game with 10 points was J.R. Smith, who one could easily argue may have blown a chance at stealing the game in regulation following a late missed free throw by teammate George Hill.

Smith grabbed the rebound and, apparently unaware that the score was tied at 107, took the ball out to half court instead of taking a game-winning floater attempt.

The miscue had to be frustrating to LeBron, who once again poured his heart and soul into even keeping his Cavs in the game for 48 minutes. He played nine minutes longer than any of his teammates and went head-to-head with the Warriors’ efficient Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.

So what did we learn in Golden State’s 124-114 overtime victory? We learned that this series will and should be far more entertaining and competitive than many would have expected. Any team with LeBron James – who even six months away from 34 years old, is doing anything but slowing down – has a chance over the course of 48 minutes. This being his eighth straight Finals illustrates as such.

Stay tuned. If Cleveland can tie the series with a win in Game 2 tonight, things will get interesting pretty quickly as the series heads to Ohio.

- Moving over to the world of college baseball, the next couple weeks are sure to be thrilling as the NCAA Tournament is now in full swing.

Perhaps even more so than the professional ranks, the college game seems to bring that unpredictable nature during the tournament. Just about every year, we see an unlikely team heat up at the perfect time and make a run, or even bring home the national championship.

Look no further than Coastal Carolina’s improbable 2016 title and more recently, Texas A&M’s run to the College World Series last season as examples that anything can happen in this game and specifically, in this tournament.

- A congratulations are in order to Midland College freshman and golfer Callum Bruce, who is the recipient of the 2018 Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year Award for the National Junior College Athletic Conference division.

It’s a prestigious honor awarded each year to the top player at the NCAA Division I, Division II, Division III, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and the NJCAA level.

Bruce, from Banff, Scotland, was truly fantastic for the Chaparrals this year, as he recorded four tournament titles, four runner-up finishes and four other top 10 finishes. Of his 14 tournaments this season, he finished outside the top 10 just twice and his play was instrumental in MC’s third-place finish at the NJCAA National Tournament in Lubbock two weeks ago.

The Chaps were one of the top junior college teams in America this season and that can be expected to continue next season with the return of Bruce, among others.

- Finally, the thoughts and prayers of the Reporter-Telegram’s sports department go out to Midland High sophomore Gavyn Cooper and his father, John Mark Cooper, after their private plane tragically crashed near Midland International Airport about 7:30 p.m. Thursday night.

Gavyn, 16, played quarterback on the Bulldogs’ junior varsity team last season. John Mark, who was piloting the plane, passed away at the age of 39.

It is during times like these during such heartbreak, that our community is challenged to come together in harmonious celebration of the life and accomplishments of these two men. By all accounts, Gavyn was beloved by his classmates, his coaches and his teammates both on and off the field and he will be dearly missed.